Indicator for liquid-containers.



F. L. PFAHL.

INDICATOR FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.6,1911

Patented J an. 2, 1912.

2 SHBETSSHEEE1 wi/tmoow P. L. PFAHL.

INDICATOR FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. 1911 Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS'SHEET 2.

vE'li. Pja hZ.

Snow ya atto'umaaa STATES PATENT o' uuoic.

FREDERICK L. PFAHL, OF AKRON, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

INDICATOR roe Lrourn-conmmnns.

' Patented Jan 2,1912.

Application filed February 6, 1911. Serial No. 606,947.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Fnnnnulck L. PFATIL, a' citizen ofthe lhiited States, residing at Akron,.in the county .of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvemits in Indicators for Liquid Containers; and I do declare the following 'to be'a' full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the' san'ie.

This invention relates to improven'lents in ndicators for liquid containing tanks or vessels; M

One object of the invention is to provide an indicator of this character having an improved construction and arrangement ofopera-ting mechanismwhereby the level of the liquid in the container will be accurately indicated.

Another object is to provide an indicator for liquid containing tanks adapted to be operated at any. distance from the tank and which is particularly adapted for use in connection with the gasolene tanks of automobiles whereby the operator may tell at a glance the condition of the gasolenc in the tank.

- With these and other objects in vie w,.the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement-of parts as will be more fully described and-"particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side view of an automobile having my invention applied thereto, parts of the automobile being broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the indicator; Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form of the indicator operating mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l denotes' my improved indicator and 2 denotes the tank to which the same is connected. The tank 2 in the present instance is shown as a gasolene tank located beneath the seat ofan automobile while the indicator 1 is located adjacent the dash board of the machineand has its lower end projecting belowthe floor 0f the latter.

The indicator 1 comprises a tank 3 which may be or any suitable size and shape and which is here shown as of cylinder form.

The upper end of the tank 3 is closed by a screw cap 4 having arranged therein a view opening 5 covered by a glass plate (3, Between the plate and the edge of the opening in the cap is arranged a gasket or washer 7 whereby a fluid tight engagementis formedbetween these parts.

Arranged in the upper end of the. tank 3 I below the glass plate (3 is a dial supporting plate 8 having on'its outer edge an upwardly and outwardly inclined annular flange 9 on the upper edge of which is-a'n annular radially projecting llange10. The'flange 10 is engaged with the upper edge of the tank and clamped between said edge and an annular offset or shoulder formed on the in-.. I

ner side of the ea-p.- Between the flange 10 and the upper edge of the cylinder is arranged a washer 11 whereby a fluid tight connection is formed between these parts.

Arranged on the plate 8 is a-dial 12 having thereon a scale indicating the quantity,

of liquid which may be in the tank 2. The

dial plate may be-secured to the plate 8 in any suitable manner but is preferably secured by lugs 13 cutfrom the side flanges of the plate and bent-over iiito engagement with the dial as shown. Secured to the un' der side of the plate 8 and projecting down into the tank 3 is a float guiding tube 1 4. in one side of which is formed a vertically dis- 1 posed slot 15. On the lowerend of the tube is arranged a bearing plate 16.

In the plate lG-is rcvolubly mounted an upwardly projecting float operated shaft '17 the upper end of which projects through the plate 8 and dial 12. On the upper end of the shaft 17 is fixedly mounted an indicating finger or pointerl8 .which-is adapted to coact with the scale on the dial plate. The

shaft 17 is rectangular in cross section and is twisted so that the sides and corners are in spiral form.

Arranged in the tube 14 is a float 19 in which is formed a "cent-rall disposed rectangular passage 20 where y 'thefloat is slidably engaged with theshaft-lf. On one sidev of the float is formed a radially projecting finger ill which slidably engages the slot 15in the'tube 14 whereby the floatis held against rotation but is permitted to freely rise and lower in-the tube with the rise and fall of the liquid inthe tanks'l .and .3. In thus rising and lowering, the float of the tank 2 where will revolve the shaft 17 by reason of its spiral formation and the sliding. engagement of the float therewithas willbe readily understood. When the shaft is thus. operated the pointer 18 will be revolved in one directionor the other and will co-act with the scale onthe dial plate to indicate the quan-,

tity of liquid in the tanks.

The tank 3 is connected at its lower end by a liquid conductingfipe 22 tothe bottom y the liquid in said 'tanks may equalize for seek itsleveL. The

upper end of the tank 3 is also connected to the upper portion of the .tank 2 by an air conducting tube 23 whereby the pressure of air'in the upper portion of both tanks will .be the same thus providing for'the accurate operation of thelndicator when the liquid in the tank 1' is under pressure." The .air

the tops'of the tanks or may enter the toms of the same and project upwardly tube or pipe 23. niay beconnected directlyoto above the level of the liquid therein as shown in the 'drawingsfThe ends of the pipe 22 are connected to nipples in the bottom of, the tanks by unions 24 while the poor- 'tion of the air pipe 23 between the tanks is slightly odified form connected by unions 25.to the portions of.

in the tanks.

said pipe 5 of the drawings is shown a In Fi.

26 in which the float uidingslot 27 is vin spiraltorm. Inthis 0pm of the tube the float operated shaftis straight throughout its entire length and is turned to operatethe pointer by movement of the float, the latter being turned by the engagement of the fin-- ger thereon with the splral slot 27.:' a 4 By. means of an indicating mechanism 'such as herein described" the condition of the liquid in a tank may accurately indithis invention, as de the vertical ,a liquid fluid tank,

bottom-of the latter with the bottom of the and an air pipe leadi'ng from the of float guiding tube cylinder,

- v Witnesses cated regardless of the position or distance between the tank and indicator.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the r accompanying drawv ings, the construction and operation of the be readily understood withclaim.

Havin' thus described my invention, what Iclaim 1s:

In an indicator of the character described, the construction of a cylinder, a dial supcan orting plate closing the upper end of the atter, a tube secured to and depending from late and lower end of the tube and ass- '11 through the float and coiiperating' t ere-- with, whereby the shaft is rotated during shaft, a transparent cover forsaid cylinder,

a pipe connecting the top of, the 'tankand communicating with the top of the cylinder."

In testimony whereof I have he reunto set -my hand in presence of two subscribing w1tnesses.' v V "FREDERICK L. PFAHL.

MR. KINNEY.

said plate, a float slidably located in the' tube, means for preventing rotation of the a float, a shaft journaled in the-supporting travel of thefioat, 'a pointer .carried by the. upper projecting end of 'the 

